Tupelo honey w/ a sting

Near by
there’s a place I simply
referred to as: The Board Walk, &
it is indeed___ just that, as it weaves
through marshland, but too it is part of a
nature reserve named:
Wheeler Wildlife Refuge___
& it used to stretch from Madison to Decatur, AL

As a family we would try to walk as far as we could
in a day, but___
over the years tornadoes & lack of funding have
torn to pieces the path which we were able to navigate,
& only two spots now remain, that go for about a mile or so
then stop___
leaving you to stare ahead in wonder

trying to at least remember more than a few  brief splashes
of color in a slice of events long since passed.

[I don’t remember very much of my childhood from brain damage,
& I told myself to look at it as if I’ve gained memory space.
It’s more optimistic than outright saying &/or thinking: oh shit, my grandfather
just died & even though it hurts___ it’s part of how life goes.
He’s in a better place & I’m happy for him, & I will miss him. Still though,
I’m angry___ ever so slightly |or| until I grind my teeth___
that I don’t have more memories of me w/ my grandfather. I can remember
if I keep focusing on the knowledge of the memory then I get more color.
All-in-all I have about a handful, but it’s okay.]